Cast-in-place fiber technology

ABSTRACT

Novel tools and techniques for installing lines or cables, including, without limitation, power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines or cables (e.g., telephone cables, network cables, television cables, etc.), and/or the like, and, in particular, installing optical fiber and/or other lines, slightly below ground level in a roadway or other ground surface. In some cases, a method might include creating a channel in the ground surface, placing one or more lines (e.g., power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines, and/or the like) in the channel, and placing a capping material in the channel, thereby encapsulating the lines. In some cases, placing the one or more lines in the channel might include placing a conduit (containing the one or more lines) in the channel, and encapsulating the one or more lines might include encapsulating the conduit. The capping material might include polyurea, thermosetting material, and/or any other suitable material.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/209,754, filed Mar. 13, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,062,423 B2) by ErezN. Allouche et al., entitled, “Cast-in-Place Fiber Technology,” whichclaims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application No.61/793,514, filed Mar. 15, 2013 by Erez N. Allouche et al., entitled,“Cast-in-Place Fiber Technology,” the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to a method and apparatuspertaining to installation of optical fiber, and, more particularly, toa method of installing optical fiber in a ground surface (includingwithout limitation a paved surface) and an apparatus used ininstallation of optical fiber in a ground surface (including withoutlimitation a paved surface).

BACKGROUND

Current construction methods for the installation of small conduits andcables consist of excavation equipment, vibratory flows (mainly in greenfield settings), and various trenchless construction methods such asdirectional drilling and impact moles. While trenchless methods greatlyreduce the surface disturbance, they are associated with significantcosts. While these costs can be justified for the placement of naturalgas lines or water mains, where the vendor has exclusivity and isassured a very high market penetration, the cost is difficult to justifywhen laying very small diameter fiber optics where initial marketpenetration may be only 30-35% and the vendor must operate in anaggressive competitive market environment.

Hence, there is a need for a low cost method for installing smalldiameter fiber optics (and/or other lines) in urbanized areas.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for installingtelecommunications lines or cables (e.g., telephone cables, networkcables, television cables, etc.), and, in particular, optical fiber,slightly below ground level in a roadway or other surface.

Various embodiments might provide method or apparatus for installinglines or cables, including, without limitation, power lines, low voltagelines, telecommunications lines or cables (e.g., telephone cables,network cables, television cables, etc.), and/or the like, and, inparticular, installing optical fiber and/or other lines, slightly belowground level in a ground surface (a term which, as used herein, includesin particular paved surfaces, such as asphalt surfaces, concretesurfaces, but also any other type of ground surface). In some cases, amethod might include creating a channel in the ground surface, placingone or more lines (e.g., power lines, low voltage lines,telecommunications lines, and/or the like) in the channel, and placing acapping material in the channel, thereby encapsulating the one or morelines. In some cases, placing the one or more lines in the channel mightinclude placing a conduit (containing the one or more lines) in thechannel, and encapsulating the one or more lines might includeencapsulating the conduit. The capping material might include polyurea.In some instances, the capping material might include thermosettingmaterial and/or any other suitable material.

Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments might provide methods,including, without limitation, methods of installing optical fiber andother lines (e.g., telecommunication lines, power lines, etc.). Anexemplary method of installing optical fiber might comprise creating achannel in a roadway surface. The method might further comprise placinga conduit in the channel; in an aspect, the conduit might have disposedtherewithin one or more optical fibers. In some embodiments, the methodcan further comprise slip molding, in place, a capping materialcomprising polyurea around the conduit to substantially fill thechannel. In an aspect, a top surface of the capping material might besubstantially coplanar with a top of the roadway surface.

According to some embodiments, a method might comprise creating achannel in a ground surface (which could be a roadway surface in somecases, but might be a variety of other surfaces as well). The method canfurther include placing one or more lines in the channel. The method,then, might further comprise placing a capping material in the channel.An apparatus, according to another set of embodiments, might compriseone or more lines disposed in a channel in a ground surface. Theapparatus might further comprise a capping material disposed around theone or more lines in the ground surface.

In an aspect, a method might comprise creating a channel in a groundsurface. The method might also comprise placing at least one conduit inthe channel, and the at least one conduit might have disposedtherewithin one or more lines. The method might further comprise slipmolding, in place, a capping material around the at least one conduit tosubstantially fill the channel, such that a top surface of the cappingmaterial is substantially coplanar with a top of the ground surface.

In some embodiments, creating a channel might comprise milling achannel. The capping material, in some cases, might comprise athermosetting material. In some instances, the capping material mightcomprise polyurea. According to some embodiments, the surface might be aroadway surface, and the capping material might serve as road lines onthe roadway surface. In some cases, the surface might be a pavedsurface.

Merely by way of example, the channel might have a width of betweenabout 0.5 inches and about 12 inches, a width of between about 1 inchand about 6 inches, a width of between about 1.5 inches and about 2.5inches, or a width of between about 0.5 inches and about 1 inch. In someembodiments, the channel might have a depth of no greater than about 3inches, a depth of no greater than about 1 inch, or a depth of nogreater than about 0.5 inches. In some cases, the one or more linesmight comprise at least one optical fiber. In some instances, the one ormore lines might comprise at least one power line.

Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, the capping materialmight comprise two or more sealant materials. The two or more sealantmaterials might, in some cases, comprise a bottom sealant materialfilling a bottom portion of the channel and a top sealant materialfilling a top portion of the channel above the bottom sealant material.The bottom sealant material might comprise polyurea and the top sealantmaterial might comprise a material selected from a group consisting ofasphalt emulsion, asphalt cement, fiber modified asphalt, polymermodified emulsion, asphalt rubber, specialty asphalt rubber, low modulusspecialty asphalt rubber, silicone, polyester, and cement mortar. In aparticular set of embodiments, the channel might have a depth of about 3inches, and the bottom sealant material might fill the bottom portion ofthe channel to a height of about 2.5 inches (thereby encapsulating theone or more lines and/or the conduit containing the one or more lines)and the top sealant material might fill the top portion of the channelwith a height of about 0.5 inches.

In yet another aspect, an apparatus might comprise at least one conduitdisposed in a channel in a ground surface. The apparatus might alsocomprise one or more lines disposed in the at least one conduit. Theapparatus might further comprise a capping material disposed around theat least one conduit in the channel in the ground surface, such that atop surface of the capping material is substantially coplanar with a topof the ground surface.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodimentsdiscussed without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combination of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the above described features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particularembodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals areused to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label isassociated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similarcomponents. When reference is made to a reference numeral withoutspecification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to allsuch multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of installingoptical fibers or other lines, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate various stages of such an installation, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a cast-in-place fiber installation orcast-in-place line installation, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate various cast-in-place fiber installation orcast-in-place line installation having various channel shapes, inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have beensummarized above, the following detailed description illustrates a fewexemplary embodiments in further detail to enable one of skill in theart to practice such embodiments. The described examples are providedfor illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the presentinvention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Inother instances, certain structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form. Several embodiments are described herein, and whilevarious features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should beappreciated that the features described with respect to one embodimentmay be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token,however, no single feature or features of any described embodimentshould be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, asother embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used herein to expressquantities, dimensions, and so forth used should be understood as beingmodified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, theuse of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and/or” unlessotherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as wellas other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considerednon-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompassboth elements and components comprising one unit and elements andcomponents that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically statedotherwise.

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for installing powerlines, low voltage lines, telecommunications line or cables (e.g.,telephone cables, network cables, television cables, etc.), and/or thelike, and, in particular, installing optical fiber and/or other lines,slightly below ground level in a roadway or other surface. Some suchembodiments offer several advantages over current construction methodsused for the installation of small diameter conduits and cablesincluding some or all of the following: minimal disruption/damage toexisting infrastructure; generation of very little waste; highproductivity rate; minimal equipment requirements; rapid installationand return to service time of the right of way (approximately one hourin some cases); decreased or eliminated probability of damaging otherexisting buried services. Such embodiments can have a variety ofcommercial applications, including, without limitation, installation offiber optics and/or other telecommunication conduits to homes andbusiness in residential and commercial areas; installation ofcommunication and power conduits in commercial, industrial, andinstitutional settings; and/or installation of distribution power linesin residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional settings.

We now turn to the embodiments as illustrated by the drawings. FIGS. 1-7illustrate some of the features of a method of installing cables in aground surface and an apparatus used in such installation, as referredto above. The methods, systems, and apparatuses illustrated by FIGS. 1-7refer to examples of different embodiments that include variouscomponents and steps, which can be considered alternatives or which canbe used in conjunction with one another in the various embodiments. Thedescription of the illustrated methods, systems, and apparatuses shownin FIGS. 1-7 is provided for purposes of illustration and should not beconsidered to limit the scope of the different embodiments.

One set of embodiments provides methods, including, without limitation,methods of installing optical fiber and/or other lines (e.g.,telecommunication lines, power lines, low voltage lines, etc.). Anexemplary method 100 is illustrated by FIG. 1. The method mightcomprise, at block 105, creating a channel in a ground surface (which,as noted above, includes in particular paved surfaces, but morespecifically could be a roadway surface, or more generally might be avariety of other surfaces as well, including, but not limited to,concrete pathway, and/or the like). In some cases, the channel can becreated by milling the roadway or other ground surface. In variousaspects, the channel might have a variety of widths. Merely by way ofexample, in some cases, the channel might have a width of between about0.5 and about 12 inches, while in other cases, the channel might have awidth of between about 1 inch and 6 inches. In other cases, the channelmight have a width between about 1.5 inches and about 2.5 inches, or awidth of about 2 inches. The depth of the channel can vary as well, solong as the channel does not compromise the structural integrity of theground surface (e.g., roadway, etc.) in which it is created. Merely byway of example, the channel might have a depth of no greater than about3 inches, a depth of no greater than about 1 inch, or a depth of nogreater than about 0.5 inches. In some embodiments, the depth of thechannel might be about 3 inches, while the width of the channel might beeither about 0.5 inches or about 1 inch. In other embodiments, the depthof the channel might be 4 or 5 inches, or any depth that is appropriatein light of the circumstances, including the structural features of theroadway (depth, strength, etc.), the characteristics of thecommunication lines to be installed in the channel, etc.

The method 100 can further include placing one or more lines in thechannel (block 110). A variety of different lines can be placed in thechannel in accordance with different embodiments, including, withoutlimitation, optical fibers and/or other telecommunication lines, powerlines, low voltage lines, conduits for any of these types of lines,and/or the like. Merely by way of example, in one embodiment, a linemight comprise a conduit with one or more optical fibers disposedinside.

The method 100, then, might further comprise placing a capping materialin the channel (block 115). The capping material, which could comprise athermosetting material, might be filled to surround the one or morelines in the channel and/or might fill the channel so that the top ofthe material is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the ground.In other cases, the material might be filled to a depth that leaves asurface of the material slightly lower than the surrounding roadway(which can allow, if desired, for the channel to be filled with othermaterials, such as the roadway material or loose fill, to a depth thatis substantially flush with the roadway).

A number of techniques can be used to place the capping material,including pouring and simultaneously slip molding the material in placein the channel. In some embodiments, the capping material might comprisepolyurea (e.g., a polyurea such as the EPL-1.5™ product, commerciallyavailable from Specialty Products, Inc. (“SPI”), which can be used withor without adhesion enhancer, SPI Aqua Seal™, SPI Aqua Seal Ultrabond™),polyurea that contains some filler materials (e.g., fly ash,cenospheres, glass bubbles, ceramic spheres, talac, alumina sand),and/or the like. (In one aspect, a polyurea can be an elastomer derivedfrom reaction of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin throughstep-growth polymerization.) In some examples, particularly where theground surface comprises a concrete pathway (and in some cases anasphalt pathway), the capping material might comprise concrete/cementmixture that is poured into the channel (thereby encapsulating the oneor more lines and/or one or more conduits containing the one or morelines), and that is allowed to set.

In one aspect of certain embodiments, the capping material can comprisea liquid filler that penetrates the hardened matrix of a paved surface(e.g., concrete, asphalt) into which the channel is cut, andmechanically interlock into the pores of that paving material. Thispenetration can not only provide enhanced adhesion between the cappingmaterial and the surface material, but it can also tend to strengthenthe impregnated surface material. In other cases, semi-solid cappingmaterials (such as cementitious and asphalt-based fillers can be used,although these semi-solid filler might not interlock into the pores ofthe surrounding paving material.

According to some embodiments, the capping material might comprise twoor more sealant/filler materials. In some instances, the two or moresealant/filler materials might comprise a bottom sealant material and atop sealant material. The bottom sealant material, which might comprisepolyurea or the like, might fill a bottom portion of the channel to aparticular height. The top sealant material might fill the remainingportion of the channel (i.e., the top portion of the channel). The topsealant material might include a material selected from a groupconsisting of asphalt emulsion, asphalt cement, fiber modified asphalt,polymer modified emulsion, asphalt rubber, specialty asphalt rubber, lowmodulus specialty asphalt rubber, silicone, polyester, and/or cementmortar. Merely by way of example, in some embodiments, the bottomsealant material might fill the bottom portion of a 3 inch deep channelto a height of about 2.5 inches, thereby filling around or otherwiseencasing/encapsulating a conduit containing optical fiber and/or otherlines, while the top sealant material might fill the top 0.5 inches ofthe 3 inch deep channel (i.e., filling the remainder of the channel). Incases in which three or more sealant/filler materials are used, eachsealant/filler material might form a layer, one on top of a previouslayer.

An apparatus provided by other embodiments might comprise one or morelines disposed in a channel in a ground surface (e.g., one or more linesand a channel such as those described above, to name a few examples).The apparatus might further comprise a capping material (e.g., such asthe material described above) disposed around the one or more lines inthe ground surface. In some cases, the apparatus might be embodied asone or more conduits and/or the like. The one or more conduits mighteach comprise a hose, tube, pipe, and/or other suitable longitudinalcasing. In some cases, the one or more conduits might each comprisetherein a longitudinal grid structure, longitudinal scaffold structure,and/or other suitable structure that might hold the various lines inplace, and, in some instances, keep the various lines apart from eachother (e.g., separating power lines from data lines and/or from lowvoltage lines, or the like), and/or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, each of the various lines might individually compriseadditional insulating layers about an outer circumference thereof inorder to ensure isolation and insulation from adjacent lines. In somecases, the additional insulating layers might serve to provide protectagainst thermal variations (including, but not limited to, day-to-daytemperature changes due to weather, temperature changes during theprocess of installing the lines (e.g., heat extrusion, heat spraying, orheated pouring of capping material (such as thermosetting material),and/or the like), or the like).

In one aspect, certain embodiments can allow a provider or vendor to layfiber on top of the road surface by creating a shallow groove (e.g., 2″wide, 0.5″ deep; 0.5″ wide, 3″ deep; or 1″ wide, 3″ deep; and/or thelike) in the pavement along the edge of the pavement. In a singleoperation, a conduit could be placed in the groove while cast-in-placepolyurea cap is extruded over it, encapsulating the conduit and bondingit with the road surface. In this embodiment, the conduit provides thethoroughfare for the fiber optic lines while the polyurea providesbonding to the concrete or asphalt surface, mechanical protectionagainst traffic and impact loads (including vandalism), and watertightness. Such embodiments can minimize costs associated withconstruction and tie-ins, providing a tailored technical solution thatis optimized for the physical characteristics of the challenge at hand.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate another embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates a portion ofa ground surface 200 (including, but not limited to, a roadway surface,or the like) before any channel has been created. FIG. 3 illustrates thesurface 200 after a channel or microtrench 300 has been milled orotherwise formed in the surface 200. FIG. 4 illustrates the surface 200with a conduit 400 placed in the channel 300. FIG. 5 illustrates thesurface 200 with conduit 400 placed in the channel 300 and cappingmaterial 500 cast in place in a portion of the channel. In someembodiments, the capping material 500 might comprise, but is not limitedto, a thermosetting material. In some cases, the capping material 500might comprise polyurea. In some instances, the capping material 500might further comprise asphalt emulsion, asphalt cement, fiber modifiedasphalt, polymer modified emulsion, asphalt rubber, specialty asphaltrubber, low modulus specialty asphalt rubber, silicone, polyester,cement mortar, and/or any combination of these materials.

FIGS. 6A-6C (collectively, “FIG. 6”) illustrate various views of acast-in-place fiber installation or cast-in-place line installation, inaccordance with a set of embodiments, including a channel 605 milledinto a ground surface 610 (including, but not limited to, a roadway, orthe like), with one or more conduits 615 placed in the channel. FIG. 6Ashows a top view of the cast-in-place fiber installation orcast-in-place line installation, while FIG. 6B shows a side elevationview (or sectional view along the direction indicated by arrows A-A) ofFIG. 6A. FIG. 6C shows an alternative embodiment, in which two conduits615 are placed in the channel 605, and in which two layers of cappingmaterial 625 a and 625 b are used, the first capping material 625 aencapsulating the two conduits 615 at the bottom portion of the channel,while the second capping material 625 b filling the top portion of thechannel.

As illustrated, the one or more conduits 615 each have optical fibers(and/or other lines) 620 disposed within. The channel 605 is then filledwith a capping material 625 (which might include, but is not limited to,polyurea, a thermosetting material, or other suitable material, or thelike), which has a top surface 630 that is substantially coplanar withthe top surface 635 of ground surface 610. In some instances,“substantially coplanar” might refer to the top surface 630 beingparallel with top surface 635. In some cases, “substantially coplanar”might refer to the top surface 630 having a slight bulge, bump, or humpas compared with top surface 635.

One feature of some embodiments is that the capping material (e.g.,polyurea) can be produced in a number of different colors. Accordingly,certain embodiments can be used not only to install optical fiber and/orother lines, but also to mark roadways (e.g., as lane lines or roadsurface markings, and/or the like) and other surfaces. From anotherperspective, optical fiber and/or other lines effectively can be placedunder the lane lines or road surface markings on the road in accordancewith various embodiments, further increasing the utility of suchembodiments.

In some aspects, existing equipment, which is both low cost andportable, for mixing and applying the polyurea can be used to deployexisting polyurea formulations developed in support of the war effort inIraq and Afghanistan for bulletproofing and blast mitigationapplications. Merely by way of example, equipment similar to that usedto seal expansion joints in roadways can be used to apply the cappingmaterial to the channel. In some embodiments, such equipment mightcomprise a feeder for extruding or otherwise placing a conduit, whilesimultaneously extruding or filling the channel around the conduit withthe capping material (including, without limitation, polyurea, athermosetting material, and/or other suitable material, or the like).

In some cases, optical fiber and/or other lines might be fed in theconduit while the conduit is being placed and encapsulated with thecapping material. In other cases, the conduit can be placed andencapsulated with the capping material without having any lines pre-fedin this manner; rather, in such cases, the optical fiber and/or otherlines might be fed through the conduit at a later time. Such equipment,in some instances, might be a hand-held apparatus, or, in some cases,might be mounted on a vehicle (e.g., construction vehicle, or the like)or other piece of equipment (e.g., construction equipment, or the like).In some embodiments, particularly for applying polyurea, such equipmentmight comprise a dual/double outlet, spray tip, applicator, etc. forsimultaneously spraying, extruding, casting, or pouring di-isocyanateand polyamine in a 1:1 mix ratio; di-isocyanate and polyamine react toform polyurea. According to some embodiments, such equipment mightcomprise a mixer (such as, but not limited to, a static mixer) thatmixes the di-isocyanate and polyamine in a 1:1 mix ratio prior tospraying, extruding, casting, or pouring through a single outlet, spraytip, applicator, etc., e.g., into the channel.

Although FIGS. 3-6 show channels 300 and 605 having square orrectangular profiles/sectional shapes, the various embodiments are notso limited, and the profiles of channels 300 and 605 can be any suitableshape including, without limitation, rectangle, square, triangle,circle, semicircle, oval, trapezoid, parallelogram, guitar-pick-shaped,regular polygon, irregular polygon, or any combination of these shapes,and/or the like. Merely by way of example, FIGS. 7A-7D (collectively,“FIG. 7”) illustrate various cast-in-place fiber installation orcast-in-place line installation having various channel shapes (andcorresponding shapes of the capping material), in accordance withvarious embodiments. For example, FIG. 7A shows a trapezoidal channel605, FIG. 7B shows a spade or guitar-pick-shaped channel 605, FIG. 7Cshows a combination rectangle-semicircle channel 605, and FIG. 7D showsa combination trapezoid-semicircle channel 605. The embodiments of FIG.7 would otherwise be similar, if not identical, to the embodiments ofFIGS. 2-6.

While certain features and aspects have been described with respect toexemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous modifications are possible. Hence, while various embodimentsare described with—or without—certain features for ease of descriptionand to illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the variouscomponents and/or features described herein with respect to a particularembodiment can be substituted, added, and/or subtracted from among otherdescribed embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are describedabove, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to coverall modifications and equivalents within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: creating a channel in aroadway, wherein a depth of the channel is less than a depth of theroadway and the channel does not compromise a structural integrity ofthe roadway; placing one or more cables in the channel; and filling atleast a portion of the channel with one or more capping materials,wherein at least one of the one or more capping materials encapsulatesthe one or more cables, and wherein the one or more capping materialscomprise a plurality of layers of different capping materials, at leastone of which comprises polyurea.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a topsurface of the one or more capping materials is substantially coplanarwith a top surface of the roadway.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereincreating a channel comprises milling a channel.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein at least one of the one or more capping materialsmechanically interlocks with pores in a material of the roadway.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one or more cables are one or moreconduits into which optical fiber can be fed at a later time.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one or more cables comprise at least oneconduit.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one conduit hasoptical fiber disposed within the at least one conduit.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more opticalfibers.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more cablescomprise one or more electrical lines.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more television cables.11. An apparatus, comprising: at least one cable disposed in a channelin a ground surface in a roadway, wherein a depth of the channel is lessthan a depth of the roadway and the channel does not compromise astructural integrity of the roadway; and one or more capping materialsfilling at least a portion of the channel, wherein at least one of theone or more capping materials encapsulates the one or more cables, andwherein the one or more capping materials comprise a plurality of layersof different capping materials, at least one of which comprisespolyurea.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a top surface of theone or more capping materials is substantially coplanar with a topsurface of the roadway.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein thechannel is created by milling a channel in the roadway.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more cappingmaterials mechanically interlocks with pores in a material of theroadway.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more cablesare one or more conduits into which optical fiber can be fed at a latertime.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more cablescomprise at least one conduit.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe at least one conduit has optical fiber disposed within the at leastone conduit.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or morecables comprise one or more optical fibers.
 19. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more electricallines.
 20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more cablescomprise one or more television cables.